TELECOMMUTING TOOLS AND REPORTING LEAD TO … · Telecommuting in moderation can help boost...

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SUCCESS STORY: TRAVEL AND COMMUTE Thanks to digital tools and well-documented policy, Argonne has implemented a robust telecommuting program to support the laboratory’s sustainability goals and promote employee productivity and satisfaction. In fiscal year 2017, Argonne employees logged over 6,600 telecommuting days and avoided vehicle emissions from 249,000 miles of driving. Telecommuting in moderation can help boost productivity and work-life satisfaction, and is an important part of Argonne’s strategy to address sustainability goals around travel and commuting. At Argonne, employees are encouraged to discuss with their supervisor whether telecommuting is an option for them. Supervisors are encouraged to speak with staff about whether telecommuting on an occasional basis is an option for individuals, including in the event of severe weather. This allows telecommuting to support the Laboratory’s safety culture; it can also allow more employees to remain productive during a suspension of laboratory operations. Recent upgrades to Argonne’s timesheet system allow employees to track their telecommuting hours and other alternate work schedules on their timesheets. This enhanced time reporting allows Argonne to better quantify the direct impact of alternative workplace arrangements on greenhouse gas emissions. Argonne has developed a laboratory- wide procedure to provide employees the process for telecommuting and to set expectations. The employee enters a formal request through an electronic form that helps document the employee’s plan for telecommuting. To make telecommuting seamless and productive, Argonne developed a set of IT tools for working remotely that are accessible from Argonne’s public website. These include: Employee e-mail access through the web. Blue Jeans, a cloud-based video, web, and audio collaboration solution available to Argonne employees for hosting meetings. Blue Jeans works for both person- to-person video conferences and meetings held in video conference rooms. Employees can share their desktop with meeting participants to show presentations and more. Participants can also join via phone. Blue Jeans also helps reduce work-related travel, hosting efficient virtual meetings with participants from many locations. November 2017 TELECOMMUTING TOOLS AND REPORTING LEAD TO GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS

Transcript of TELECOMMUTING TOOLS AND REPORTING LEAD TO … · Telecommuting in moderation can help boost...

Page 1: TELECOMMUTING TOOLS AND REPORTING LEAD TO … · Telecommuting in moderation can help boost productivity and work-life satisfaction, and is an important part of Argonne’s strategy

SUCCESS STORY: TRAVEL AND COMMUTE

Thanks to digital tools and well-documented policy, Argonne has implemented a robust telecommuting program to support the laboratory’s sustainability goals and promote employee productivity and satisfaction.

In fiscal year 2017, Argonne employees logged over 6,600 telecommuting

days and avoided vehicle emissions from 249,000 miles of driving.

Telecommuting in moderation can help boost productivity and work-life

satisfaction, and is an important part of Argonne’s strategy to address

sustainability goals around travel and commuting. At Argonne, employees

are encouraged to discuss with their supervisor whether telecommuting is

an option for them. Supervisors are encouraged to speak with staff about

whether telecommuting on an occasional basis is an option for individuals,

including in the event of severe weather. This allows telecommuting to support

the Laboratory’s safety culture; it can also allow more employees to remain

productive during a suspension of laboratory operations.

Recent upgrades to Argonne’s timesheet system allow employees to track their

telecommuting hours and other alternate work schedules on their timesheets.

This enhanced time reporting allows Argonne to better quantify the direct

impact of alternative workplace arrangements on greenhouse gas emissions.

Argonne has developed a laboratory-

wide procedure to provide employees

the process for telecommuting

and to set expectations. The

employee enters a formal request

through an electronic form that

helps document the employee’s

plan for telecommuting. To make

telecommuting seamless and

productive, Argonne developed a set

of IT tools for working remotely that

are accessible from Argonne’s public

website. These include:

☐ Employee e-mail access through

the web.

☐ Blue Jeans, a cloud-based video,

web, and audio collaboration

solution available to Argonne

employees for hosting meetings.

Blue Jeans works for both person-

to-person video conferences and

meetings held in video conference

rooms. Employees can share their

desktop with meeting participants

to show presentations and more.

Participants can also join via phone.

Blue Jeans also helps reduce

work-related travel, hosting efficient

virtual meetings with participants

from many locations.

November 2017

TELECOMMUTING TOOLS AND REPORTING LEAD TO GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS

Page 2: TELECOMMUTING TOOLS AND REPORTING LEAD TO … · Telecommuting in moderation can help boost productivity and work-life satisfaction, and is an important part of Argonne’s strategy

☐ Box, Argonne’s secure cloud-

based file storage system. Box

provides an easy way to organize,

edit, share, and collaborate on

files without the need for a virtual

private network (VPN). It can be

used on many operating systems

and devices, including desktop

and laptop computers, tablets, and

smartphones.

☐ Dash, a user interface. Dash

provides access to select Argonne

business systems without VPN. All

access is through a simple client

or web browser plugin called Citrix

Receiver. It uses the employees’

existing Argonne login and allows

direct access to key applications

through a secure connection.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE EMAILSustainability Program Manager [email protected]

The laboratory has also developed

how-to tip sheets on optimizing

telecommuting productivity for both

employees and supervisors, as part

of the telecommuting toolkit. Argonne

continues to leverage telecommuting

to support sustainability goals and

other benefits such as boosting

productivity, performance, creativity,

and job satisfaction.

SUCCESS STORY: TRAVEL AND COMMUTE